Electric switch



'May 8 i925. 1,669,274

C. E.. ANDERSON ELECTRIC swTCH Original Filed Oct. 2l, 1921,

' ATTORNEYS Patented May V8,l 1928.

UNITED STATES hPATENT OFFICE.

`CARL ERIC ANDERSON, OF STRATFORD, CONNEC'IILIC'WI,` ASSIGNOB TO THEBRYANT.

ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BBIDGEPORT,

NECTICUT.

ELECTRIC 'Application med October 21, 1921, Serial My invention relatesto electric switches, and particularly tothe construction of the. switchmechanism, the object of vmy invention being to provide `a mechanism ofthe tumbler type having certain improved features of construction andoperation hereinafter pointed out or illustrated in the accompanyingdrawin s', in which` Fig. 1 is a vertica section through a Hush switchinwhich my invention isrembodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a perspective ofthe switch bar rocker; Fig. 4 is a lever;,and

Fig.'5 is a perspective of the switch frame. The invention is here shownembodied in a flush. switch comprising a cup-shaped -insulatin body 6,the open face of which is Spanne by the supporting -frame .7. The latter[is centrally interrupted, but .its opv posite ends lare joined by theside members 8 and 9,which are here shown integral with the supportinends. Wire terminals 10 are arranged on epressed ledges 11 at thefourcorners of the switch chamber and have' switch-contact lugs'12 and13 for cooperation zwith the'two switch blades .14 and 15 the switch inthe form here shown being of the double-pole type.

The switch mechanism is'of the toggle type andcomprises a switch baryoke "16 rpcking on the open bearings 17 and carrying the switch' bars14 and 15. A tongue 18 -is formed inthe yoke bridge for attachment toone end.19V of the actuating pull spring 20. The other end f the springis engaged at 21 to theoperating lever 22 by which it is swung from oneside to the other of the axis of oscillation of the switch yoke 16. Asalready indicated in Fig. 2, the switch bar yoke 16 straddles the framemembers. 8 and 9, while the operating lever '22 lies between the latter.v

This .operating lever is a fiat sheet metal bar provlded lat its outerend with asuitable finger piece or handle 30, preferably 'ofinsulation'. This lever is pivoted near its intner end to the framemembers 8, 9, and at that en d is slotted in the 'direction of itslength to 4form an open forked-end in whichl can work the pull spring20, this sprin beperspective ofthe operating ing connected to the leverat 21 at, the cad CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION o1' 00N- SWITCH.

m, 509,242. Renewed 'octliber 12, 192e 16 overlap eachother, and sinceboth these devices have their pivots near their outer ends, a relativelylon spring 20 canbe employed with good'e ect, and 'with a longmovementof the switch contacts. I In order that the lever 22v may beintroduced to4 operating position, the frame' members 8 and 9 areslotted at 23 to one side of hook bearings 24, inwhich the shoul- `ders25 of the lever 22 pivot. At the head of the slots 23, lugs 26 areoutwardly offset to form bearing studs against which the -notch bearings17 of the switch yoke are pressed by the tension ot the spring 20 whenthe parts are assembled. The arms of the yoke 1.6 are apertured at 27 toreceive, with lost motion, t e lugs 28 on the switch lever, and bylwhich a positive movement is imparted to the yoke to initiate the throwof the switchbars. Y

The mechanism iseasily assembled with the vframe. After the` lever 22has been .placed between the arms of the switch yokev 16 with the'lugs28 entering the recesses 27, and with the spring 19 engaged at 18 and21,

the mechanism is lmounted on the frame by assing the lever 22 up betweenthe side rame members 8 and 9 until the arms of the switch yoke, whichstraddle the frame, engage the bearing studs 26 in the notches 17. f thelever 2 2 is now' pulled against the tension of the spring 20, thebearing shoulders 25 of the 'lever Vmay be lifted and swung over theends of the hooks which form the bearings 24 against which the shoulders25 are then automatically cle-- pressed by the pull o1`-the spring. Thespring 20 now maintains the notches 17 of lthe switch yoke against thebearing studs 26 and the shoulders 25 'of the lever 22 in the bearingnotches24. The yoke 27, with the i 'switch mechanism assembled thereon,is now ready for assembly on the switch body 6.

The operation oi the switch is readily un.-

lTil() derstood. In Fig.` l the switch is shown in circuit-closingpositionA with the switch bars 14 and 15 in engagement with the switchcontacts 12 and 13. To shift the switch to open-circuit position thelever 22 which passes through the open area 29 in the switch frame, isswung onthe bearings 24 by means 13. As the switch lever completes itsare of travel, the pull of the spring 20 causes the switch yoke 16 toswing with snap action to open-circuit position, that is to say, fromits stop position against the legs 31 of the switch frame to the stopposition against the legs To again close the circuit the switch lever isswung in opposite direction, thus repeating the movement, bu-t inreverse direction, and again shifting the switch barsto circuit-closingposition with snap action. The slot 33 in the switch lever accommo datesthe switch spring as it swings from one side to the other thereofon theoperation of the switch.

It will be noted that the point of engagement between the lugs 2'8'onthe switch lever and the sides of the apertures 27 in the arms of theyokeA is substantially aligned with the aXes of oscillation 17 and 24-ofthe switch bar and sw'itclilever respectively, but the shape of theapertures 27 is such that the engagement of the lugs does not occuruntil the end 21 of the spring 20 reaches or slightly passes the axis17, thus insuring a positive separation of the contacts and switch baronly when the spring is under tension and in position to accelerate thepositive separation of these parts and effect a quick break by theswitch bar movement thus initiated.

The construction is extremely simple and economical since vthe frame 7,switch bar yoke 16, and lever 22 may all be struck from sheet metal andbent to shape, while the assembly of the parts is Jreadily accomplishedWithout the use of independent pivot pins or the like. The angularopening 23 through which the switch lever 22 is introduced into itsbearings 24 permits the bearing hooks to be so shaped that there is nodanger of the shoulders. 25 jumping out of their bearing notches 24.Moreover, even should'an attempt be made to disarrange the switch bypulling the'lever 22 outward to unseat the shoulders 25 from the bearingnotches 24, the effort is not likely to be successful since the severalparts must be in exact predetermined position to permit the shoulders 25to ride over the noses of the bearing hooks.

The bay 34: in the margin of the apertures 27 in the yoke armsaccommodates the lugs 28 when the switch yoke 16 and lever 22 areassembled and insures the maintenance of these parts in'proper relationas an assembly unit-under the pull of spring 20, until they are engagedwith the frame member 7.

`Various modifications in detail of confor manual operation, cooperatingopen bearing members for pivoting the rocker and lever respectively ondifferent aXes on the frame, and a pull Yspring operatively connectingsaid rocker and lever, and connected to the lever at 'a point shiftableacross the axis of oscillation of the rocker on the operation of theswitch lever.

2. In an electric switch, a switch frame having an apertured side plate,a switch bar pivotally mounted at one side of said plate and beingapertured in register with the aperture in the frame plate, a switchoperating lever pivoted on an independent axis and/arranged on theopposite side of the frame plate and having a lugl passing through theaperture in the frame plate and engaged with lost motion in the aperturein the switch bar, a switch spring operatively engaged between saidswitch bar and lever and connected tothe lever at a point shiftableacross the aXis'of oscillation of the switch bar on the operationof theswitch lever, said lug on the lever and aperture in the switch bar beingof such dimensions and so located that the lug engages one or the otherside of the aperture approximately simult-aneously with the passage ofthe end of the spring` attached to the switch lever across the axis ofoscillation of the switch bar to impart a positive impulse -to thelatterin the direction of its throw 3. In an electric switch, a switch levercomprising a substantially flat sheet metal bar slotted at one end inthe direction of its length to form a forked end, bearing shoulders atthe outer margins of the ends of the legs of the fork, aswitch-operating spring pivoted to the lever at the head of the fork andworking between the legs thereof, in combination with a switch barrocker to which the opposite end of the spring is secured. l

4. In an electric switch, a switch lever comprising a substantially flatsheet metal bar slotted at one end in the direction of its length toform a forked end, bearings at the 'outer edges of the free. ends of thelegs of the fork, outwardly extending lugs spaced 'is secured, said rocfrom the -ends'of lthe/fork, a .switch oper- .ating spring `pivoted tothe lever at the-'head of the fork -and working between the legsthereof, in combination with a switch bar rocker to which the oppositeend. of 'the spring er being apertured to accommodate the outwardlyextending lugs on the lever, said lugs working freely in the aperturesbut' adapted to engage the boundaries thereof to initiate the throw. ofthe rocker inopposite directions.

5. In an electric switch, a' switch lever comprising a substantiallyfiat sheet metal bar slotted at one end in the direction of its lengthto form a forked end, bearings at the outer edges of the free ends ofthe legs of the fork, outwardly extending lugs spaced from the ends ofthe fork, a switch' operating spring pivoted to the lever at the head ofthe fork and Working between the legs thereof, in combination with aswitch bar rocker to 'which --the opposite end of the spring is securedsaid'rocker being apertured to accommodate the outwardly extending lugson the lever, said lugs working freely in the apertures but adapted .toengage the boundaries thereof to initiate the throw of the rocker inAopposite directions, the aperture in the rocker being shaped to afford abay opening thereto, said sprin being suiiiciently stressed on theassembly ol the switch lever with the rocker to maintain the partsassembled with said unit being adapted for direct self-conltainedassembly onthe frame and having bearin elements adapted for engagementwithv t e bearings on the switch frame andself-maintenance thereon underthe tension of the spring.

7. In an electric switch, a switch frame comprising spaced endsupporting lugs, and intermediate connecting members extending at rightangles thereto, said side members having open bearing hooks at theirfree ends and outwardly extending bearing-studs intermediate the bearinghooks and supporting lugs, said side members being notched adja cent thebearing hooks to permit the assembly therewith of a member of anassociated p switch mechanism.

-In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

` CARL ERIC ANDERSON.

